Zanzibar

Zanzibar has been trading in spices, stories and sea air for a thousand years. This archipelago off the East African coast of Tanzania sat for centuries at the crossroads of Africa, Arabia, India and Europe, and the result is a place where powder-white beaches meet a culture you can taste, smell and hear. Come for the sand, but do not miss the soul. That soul lives in Stone Town, the historic heart of the main island of Unguja and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its maze of narrow lanes twists past coral-stone buildings, carved wooden doors, bustling bazaars and quiet courtyards, best explored slowly and a little aimlessly. Time your evening around the Forodhani night market, where the harbourfront fills with grills and the scent of the day's catch. Then there are the beaches, and they are the real thing. Nungwi and Kendwa in the north offer soft sand, swimmable water at all tides and a lively sunset scene. Offshore, the coral around Mnemba Atoll ranks among the Indian Ocean's finest snorkelling and diving, all turquoise water and darting fish. History buffs can boat out to Prison Island to meet its giant tortoises, while Jozani Forest shelters the rare red colobus monkey found nowhere else on earth. No visit is complete without a spice tour. Zanzibar earned the nickname the Spice Island honestly, and walking a working plantation, crushing fresh cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon between your fingers, connects you to the trade that shaped this place. It pairs perfectly with the local Swahili cuisine, heavy on seafood, coconut and, of course, spice. A little cultural awareness goes a long way here. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so dress modestly away from the beach and resorts, especially in Stone Town. Carry cash, since many smaller businesses do not take cards, and book tours through your accommodation or trusted local operators. It is best to avoid tap water, so stick to bottled or filtered. Four days lets you split your time between the culture of Stone Town and the beaches of the north or east coasts without rushing. Many travellers arrive fresh off a mainland safari, and the pairing is hard to beat. June to October, the long dry season, brings the sunniest, most reliable beach weather. Whether you come to dive, to wander, or simply to do very little on the sand, Zanzibar delivers.